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Sara Harris Photography
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Sara Harris Photography
Lulu Bird's Kitchen
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Sara Harris Photography
Gloucester is the unofficial daffodil capital of America.
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Sara Harris Photography
Bangkok Noi Thai Cuisine
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Sara Harris Photography
Gloucester Brewing Company
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Sara Harris Photography
The Inn at Warner Hall
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Sara Harris Photography
Historic Gloucester Courthouse
Think you know Gloucester? Here are four things you may not know about the little spot on the map that sits at 37°24’48”N longitude and 76°31’26”W latitude.
Gloucester is Virginia’s oldest living village. Its history spans from the precolonial and the Revolutionary War to the Civil War and beyond and boasts a strong African American heritage.
It’s the unofficial daffodil capital of America. Early European settlers transported bulbs to the New World and planted them across Gloucester County. Every April, Gloucester celebrates with an annual Daffodil Festival.
Its most famous resident—Pocahontas. Pocahontas, the young daughter of Chief Powhatan, was born and raised in Gloucester, and it was here where she saved the life of Captain John Smith when he was brought to Werowocomoco in December 1607.
Now that you’re acquainted with Gloucester’s history, its architectural charm and small-town coziness are its next draw. Both are integrated where commercial vibrancy and residential living coexist all on Main Street.
“When you walk down our Main Street, you will see houses mixed in with the businesses. So, in essence we are still a village. People live there, they work there, they play there,” Jenny Crittenden, executive director for Gloucester Main Street.
Along the walls, large-scale murals depicting Pocahontas, the daffodils, waterman culture and T.C. Walker wait to be discovered and discussed.
“We encourage people to interact with the art, take pictures. We love seeing people taking Instagram photos or posting on Facebook,” says Crittenden.
Dining in Gloucester
Gloucester offers visitors a first-class dining experience complete with culinary classics from distant places made local by the people native to or well-versed in their creation.
“I feel like that’s one of the destination drivers for our downtown and we’ve got anything from eclectic American to family-style,” says Crittenden.
“We’ve got the local diner where you can get your burger and fries and a great cup of coffee in the morning with your eggs and your blueberry pancakes. We’ve got a fabulous café that offers Boar’s Head meats and beautiful salads and paninis and house curated specials every day. We’ve got a local pizza place that’s been in business for over 45 years that to me is wonderful.
And then we have a Thai restaurant that boasts recipes that are over 100 years old from scratch, with an award-winning sushi bar. So, we’ve got something for everyone.”
1. Lulu Birds Kitchen
Adventurous eaters will get all the flavor and food pairings they can handle at Lulu Birds Kitchen. Armed with an eclectic menu and serving fresh foods from scratch, each dish aims to wow diners by the forkful. Opening Lulu Birds was a dream for culinarians Chef Keyvan Behnam, who has cooked various styles of international cuisines throughout the United States and around the world, and his wife, Isabelle. You’ll find that same flair in Lulu Birds’ Asian, Italian and American dishes.
2. Bangkok Noi Thai Cuisine
If the flavorful kick of Asian cuisine gets your taste buds excited, Bangkok Noi Thai Cuisine is a must-stop restaurant. Located right at the start of Gloucester’s historic Main Street, you can expect the highest quality Thai food from a family whose culinary roots are from Thailand. Chef Jason leverages generations of family recipes sharing with the public the foods he’s enjoyed since childhood.
3. Olivia’s in the Village
With a reputation that draws foodies from across Central and Southeastern Virginia and the peninsulas, Olivia’s in the Village serves up savory Italian entrées, American favorites and seafood that keep people coming back. Since 2003, Gary Ward and his wife, Karen, who also own Scoot’s Barbecue, have made this family-style restaurant on Main Street a must for locals and tourists who desire to have their palate tickled with robust flavors.
4. Gloucester Brewing Company
From its start in the garage of head brewer Myron Ware to its home on Main Street, Gloucester Brewing Company is the village’s first homegrown microbrewery.
On tap, you’ll find a wide variety of beer types from saisons and hard seltzers to ales, porters, stouts and IPAs. Whether you grab a stool and sip with friends or snag some brew to go, you can count on Gloucester Brewing Co. to provide a safe and fun environment and quality local beers.
Shopping in Gloucester
For retail lovers, Gloucester offers a one-of-a-kind shopping experience featuring wares you’ll only find there.
5. Arts on Main
When visiting Gloucester, take home an original canvas or other piece of art from one of the area’s many creatives at Arts on Main. A nonprofit organization aimed at helping nurture and promote local artists, Arts on Main offers unique exhibits and events in its 4,000 square foot gallery.
If your visit has you in town on a Friday morning, drop in for its open studio sessions featuring a free painting class from 9 am to noon.
6. Kelsick Specialty Market
Out-of-towners will find Kelsick Specialty Market a haven of goodness for its craft beer and wine selection, gourmet eats and sweets, locally made Virginia products and more. You’ll find a delightful assortment of grab-and-go and other prepared foods and pastries that you can pack up and take for a day on the water at Gloucester Point or for a picnic on the grounds at The Inn at Warner Hall.
7. Vashti’s Jewelers
For the lovers and collectors of all things beautiful and sparkly, Vashti’s Jewelers offers classic and contemporary jewelry and custom designs in gold, sterling silver and platinum settings featuring your favorite precious stones.
The jeweler, a Gloucester fixture since 1961, offers an array of other services you can get on the go while staying in town, including diamond and precious stone cleaning and polishing, gold cleaning and polishing, sterling silver cleaning and polishing and watch battery replacement.
Stay in Gloucester
No trip to Gloucester is complete without a stay at the Inn at Warner Hall, a former plantation overlooking the Severn River.
8. The Inn at Warner Hall
Founded in 1642 by Augustine Warner, the great-great-grandfather of George Washington, the Inn has been owned by Troy and Theresa Stavens since 1999.
“We are the true accidental innkeepers,” says Theresa Stavens, who was talked into purchasing the property along with her husband during a car-sharing ride from the airport in the mid-1990s.
“I said, ‘Well, eventually I’d love to run a bed-and-breakfast, but right now probably timing is not great. My husband and I are quite happy with our lives, running our investment advisory firm and living in Williamsburg.’
“At the end of the day, in 1999, somewhere later that year, Troy and I took possession of the 38 acres that is now affectionately known as the Inn at Warner Hall. Just imagine a random conversation with a stranger, and that’s our story,” she says.
The driveway is flanked with pristinely manicured bushes leading to the front door of the Georgian colonial pillared exterior. Upon entering, high ceilings and a beautiful staircase leading to the upper level catch your attention, with a study to the left and a great room to the right. Martha Washington, the Stavens’ 45-pound, 11-year-old rescue beagle/hound/blue tick mix greets you at the door. The Stavens aren’t too far behind.
“We want everybody to feel like they’re visiting a friend and staying with a friend at a spectacular country house. We’ve heard that time and time again from different people about what a difference the whole vibe was, that it really felt welcoming,” says Troy Stavens.
“My dad always used to say something along the lines of 10, 10, 10. A person’s opinion, a person’s experience, is formed usually with the first 10 steps, the first 10 seconds and the first 10 words, and that you only have one chance to make a first impression. So, when people cross over the threshold into the center hall, they’re greeted as if they’re a family friend because that’s what we would want someone to do if we were visiting their establishment.”
Guests are welcome to use one-speed bikes to cruise around the property, visit the boathouse to cruise in the river in kayaks and canoes, or enjoy a night under the stars in the spacious and open rear of the property. Included in the price are snacks and breakfast. Regarding lunch and dinner, the Stavens encourage guests to venture out and enjoy what the restaurants on Main Street have to offer.
“I put out a variety of hearty hors d’oeuvres, not enough for dinner because we want to allow people to enjoy the wonderful dining experiences of Gloucester Main Street,” says Theresa Stavens.
The next time you’re looking for a weekend getaway that’s not Williamsburg, Richmond or Virginia Beach, take a moment to ask yourself, why not Gloucester? You’ll be happy you did.
Find all the businesses mentioned in this story and more at GloucesterVillage.com.
